Method and apparatus for replacing utility outlets

Abstract

A concentrically multi-shafted apparatus compresses a compressible stopper to effect a seal in a through-hole of a main utility line to permit a substantially leak-free removal and replacement of a service saddle or a service seal. Counter rotation of concentric shafts, depending upon the direction of rotation, increases or decreases an axial load on the compressible stopper. The external concentric shaft is in sealing engagement with a housing which, when coupled to a utility customer's gate valve permits a main line through-hole to be sealed by the compressible stopper without leakage of water or gas. Once the through-hole is sealed, the service saddle can easily be removed and replaced.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for facilitating replacement of a service saddle installed over a through-hole in a wall of a service pipe, the service saddle being coupled via a pipe nipple to a first end of a valve having open and closed positions, the apparatus comprising: shaft means having a first end for insertion through the valve while it is in the open position, through the pipe nipple, and into the through-hole in the wall of the service pipe;   fixed end-stop means fixedly installed on said first end of said shaft means so as to be disposed within the service pipe for forming an end-stop;   expandable plug means for expanding in a radial direction upon application of a compression force in an axial direction, said expandable plug means having, when there is no compression force applied, a substantially cylindrical configuration having a first end and a second end, and a diameter which is shorter than that of the through-hole in the wall of the service pipe, said expandable plug means further having an axial opening therethrough for accommodating said shaft means and an annular seating ring arranged intermediate of said first and second ends, and having a diameter which is longer than that of the through-hole in the wall of the service pipe for preventing the entire expandable plug means from entering the through-hole in the wall of the service pipe, said expandable plug means being urged against said end stop means, whereby upon the application of the axial compression force, said expandable plug means seals the through-hole in the wall of the service pipe at the exterior thereof via the annular seating ring which is urged against the exterior of the wall of the service pipe in a region thereof surrounding said through-hole, and at the interior thereof via a bulge formed in the expandable plug means in response to the axial compression force;   compression nut means threadedly installed on said shaft means for applying to said expandable plug means an axial compression force against said fixed end-stop means;   removable compression nut driver means removably installed on said shaft means for applying a rotative force to said compression nut means, said removable compression nut driver means having a first end adapted for removably coupling to said compression nut means and a second end adapted for rotative manipulation; and   housing means having a first end for coupling to the second end of the valve, and a second end for sealingly accommodating said compression nut driver means.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein there is further provided compression driver securing means removably arranged on a second end of said shaft means external to the valve for urging said removable compression nut driver means into engagement with said compression nut means. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein there is further provided seal means for forming a fluid-tight seal between said removable compression nut driver means and said housing means, wherein said removable compression nut driver means is movable with respect to said housing means. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein there is further provided purge valve means for facilitating communication between the interior of said housing means and the ambient environment. 
     
     
       5. A method of removing and replacing a service saddle for a utility supply line, the service saddle being of the type having an outlet arranged to overlie an outlet hole in a wall of the utility supply line and having a valve coupled to the outlet of the service saddle, the method comprising the steps of: coupling a sealed housing member and a removable compression driver tool sealably arranged therewith to an outlet of the valve while the valve is in a closed state;   manipulating the valve so that it achieves an open state;   slidably moving the removable compression driver tool with respect to the housing member while maintaining a seal with respect thereto;   inserting an expandable plug assembly which is in sealing communication with the housing member through the interior of the valve while it is in an open state so that a first portion of the expandable plug assembly enters the outlet hole until an annular seating ring arranged around the expandable plug which has a diameter which is longer than that of the outlet hole communicates with the exterior of the utility supply line in the vicinity of the outlet hole in the wall of the utility supply line;   manipulating with a removable compression driver tool a compression nut for applying an axial compressive force to the expandable plug to cause same to expand radially within the utility supply line and the annular seating ring to be urged against the exterior of the utility supply line in the vicinity of the outlet hole, until the outlet hole in the wall of the utility supply line is sealed by the radial expansion of the first portion of the expandable plug in the interior of the utility supply line, and the annular seating ring on the exterior thereof; and   removing the sealed housing member and the removable compression driver tool while leaving the expandable plug in sealing communication with the outlet hole in the wall of the utility supply line.   
     
     
       6. The method of claim 11 wherein said step of manipulating is performed from the exterior of the sealed housing member. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 5 wherein the expandable plug assembly is provided with a shaft which is coaxially arranged with the removable compression driver tool and extends to the exterior of the sealed housing member, and there is provided the further step of manipulating the shaft during said step of manipulating the removable compression driver tool. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 7 wherein said step of manipulating the removable compression driver tool comprises the step of rotating the removable compression driver tool with respect to the shaft. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 7 wherein said step of manipulating the removable compression driver tool comprises the step of rotating the removable compression driver tool with respect to the sealed housing member. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 5 wherein said step of inserting the expandable plug assembly comprises the step of axially moving the expandable plug assembly while at least a portion thereof is disposed within the removable compression driver tool.